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Spaceflight Simulator

17 Sandbox games like Spaceflight Simulator that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

We filtered the 49 games similar to Spaceflight Simulator down to the 17 that fit the “Sandbox” category. X: Beyond the Frontier, X2: The Threat and SpaceEngine top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Spaceflight Simulator.

iRank97/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure
Tags
NarrativeSolo
Year 2017Dev Stefo Mai Morojna
Stores

Quick answer

Within the “Sandbox” category, the closest game to Spaceflight Simulator is X: Beyond the Frontier — scoring 80/100 on our similarity scale. X2: The Threat and SpaceEngine follow close behind.

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The best sandbox games like Spaceflight Simulator

17 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Spaceflight Simulator. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1X: Beyond the Frontier
X: Beyond the Frontier
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSpaceExplorationThird Person
Steam👍 75%· 387RAWG👍 56%· 32MC67IGDB30· 1
Year 1999Dev Egosoft · THQPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

The Human Race had advanced to the point where we could travel among the stars, we developed giant automated machines to help us colonise other worlds, but there was a fault in their programming and they turned and attacked. Forcing us to lay a trap to protect Earth and exiling the Human race to stay on Earth once again.

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: visuals and progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting82Progression49Visuals44
#2X2: The Threat
X2: The Threat
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceExplorationThird Person
Steam👍 83%· 522RAWG👍 58%· 36MC72IGDB67· 2
Year 2003Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

X²: The Threat is of a new generation of space simulator games, you play the role of Julian Gardna who continues the story set by X: Beyond The Frontier. The updated graphics engine gives the universe a fresher feel with newly designed ships and stations adding to the complexity of the universe.

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: progression and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting83Visuals44Progression43
SpaceEngine
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceExplorationEarly Access
Steam👍 96%· 16KRAWG👍 89%· 36
Year 2019Dev Vladimir RomanyukPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, vibe relaxing and procedural generation, while skipping crafting mechanics

SpaceEngine is a 1:1 scale science-based Universe simulator, featuring billions upon billions of galaxies, nebulae, stars, and planets, all shown at their full real-world scale.

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: visuals and tone.

Genre100Game mode100World81Setting75Progression67Tone27
Kerbal Space Program
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldSpaceExplorationThird Person
Steam👍 95%· 140KRAWG👍 84%· 408MC88IGDB87· 7OC81· 41
Year 2015Dev Squad · Private DivisionPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, punishing difficulty and setting scifi, while skipping strong narrative focus

How to build a spaceship capable of delivering a human crew into space - and return this crew back?

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: tone and visuals.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting83Progression51Visuals35
Animal Crossing: City Folk
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
IGDB70· 5
Year 2008Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.2 · Nintendo

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay and visual isometric, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: visuals.

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression62Game mode55Visuals44
From Dust
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationMagic
Steam👍 67%· 2.9KIGDB80· 5
Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and combat magic, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression62Setting0Visuals0
67
Roblox
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2006Dev Roblox CorporationOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, precision platforming and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: game mode and visuals.

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression62Visuals44Game mode35
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationCraftingThird Person
IGDB95· 6OC95· 164
Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting.

Released 6 years after Spaceflight Simulator.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals60Setting0
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationCraftingThird Person
IGDB98· 27OC96· 167
Year 2017Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression71Visuals60Setting0
#10L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Steam👍 86%· 36KIGDB89· 7
Year 2011Dev Team Bondi · Take-Two InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing sandbox freedom, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression64Visuals62Tone60
Grow Home
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Steam👍 92%· 5.6KIGDB78· 6OC76· 38
Year 2015Dev Ubisoft Reflections · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with sandbox freedom, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, precision platforming and vibe casual, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting and tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression67Visuals62Tone18
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
IGDB92· 15OC90· 71
Year 2013Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 · Nintendo

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and combat magic, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting and progression.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals44Progression40Setting0
Assassin's Creed
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
IGDB81· 4
Year 2007Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, precision platforming and stealth mechanics, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: setting and progression.

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals60Progression40Setting0
Bully
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
IGDB92· 4
Year 2006Dev Rockstar New England · Take-Two InteractiveOn PS4 · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Spaceflight Simulator by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Progression62Visuals60Game mode55
#15Scribblenauts Unlimited
Scribblenauts Unlimited
AdventureOpen World Action-Adventure
SoloSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration2D
Steam👍 94%· 12KIGDB72· 10
Year 2012Dev 5th Cell · WB GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and precision platforming, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Spaceflight Simulator: tone and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Spaceflight Simulator.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals72Progression58Tone0

Complete list of sandbox games like Spaceflight Simulator

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